![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 867 to 891 of 1313. Go back in thread:
Posted by Dr. Bob on May 9, 2004, at 17:01:47
In reply to Alternative Therapies, posted by maxziggy2002 on May 9, 2004, at 15:34:25
> It's starting to become clear to me that the dominant personalities on this board are not interested in hearing about alternatives to dangerous anti-depressants and seem vested in shooting down anyone who tries to offer them.
Please don't post anything that could lead others to feel accused or put down. I've asked you to be civil before, so now I'm going to block you from posting for a week.
If you have any questions or comments about this or about posting policies in general, or are interested in alternative ways of expressing yourself, please see the FAQ:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#civil
or email me, or redirect a follow-up to Psycho-Babble Administration after your block is over.
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by finelinebob on May 9, 2004, at 17:02:28
In reply to Alternative Therapies, posted by maxziggy2002 on May 9, 2004, at 15:34:25
Other than waxing ineloquent about the Virtues of the Potato above, I can't say that I've followed this thread, but...
Maxziggy, if people have shot down your point of view out-of-hand, good on you for calling them on it. Lifestyle changes that improve diet and exercise will improve just about anybody's state of mind. Furthermore, giving mind-altering substances to people who don't need them is also bad medicine. If some life event knocks one "down in the dumps" and one responds with adopting poor lifestyle habits, then restoring good lifestyle habits and taking some well-considered actions to reverse the event that put one there in the first place may be all that is needed for one to restore oneself to "normal".
However, your mileage may vary.
Mine certainly does. I have training in gathering empirical data and drawing reasonable conclusions from them. The data I've collected on my own life says, for me, you are correct in part. And while I'll grant you that Western medical science does not fully understand either the biochemical neurophysiology of brain disorders or the full effects of that psychopharmaceuticals have on our brains, I'm also not ready to reject out-of-hand the work of thousands of scientists over several decades. Nortriptyline works for me.
I do not know DeMaisons' work (and it would help if she posted her qualifications more visibly on her web site -- what is her PhD in?), but I'm willing to wager that she uses methods of inquiry highly similar to many (if not most) of those scientists and doctors you label as "irresponsible". If she comes to a different conclusion to the same data, does that give her an exclusive license to responsiblity?
Her mileage may vary, too.
Dissenting views are always valuable to a group forum like this. Please keep it up ... we need it! But please don't ask or expect us all to conform to your dissent -- that kinda misses the point.
flb
Posted by chemist on May 9, 2004, at 17:22:54
In reply to Re: The potato ;^), posted by finelinebob on May 9, 2004, at 1:14:29
....awesome!!!.......all the best, chemist
Posted by chemist on May 9, 2004, at 17:33:45
In reply to Re: The potato, posted by caleb96 on May 9, 2004, at 11:36:17
>
> > caleb, nice to meet you.....i don't necessarily think that our training makes us any more qualified to address issues that are clearly patient-specific or anecdotal, and i think you are on the same page, but please forgive me if i am making an assumption. i do think that our training does enable some of the more fundamental questions to be addressed, such as what you posted above (e.g., mechanisms of action, binding affinities, enzymatic pathways for metabolism, etc.). i am not on a ``high horse'' claiming anything other than a background that could be of use for certain matters. i also am on this board to listen to what people have to say about their experiences with meds/therapists as it pertains to me. it is a two-way street.....all the best, chemist
> >
>
> chemist,
>
> I agree with what you're saying--I don't want to stomp on anyone's free speech. But I think it's OK to present the current body of scientific evidence to question a dubious claim. It's interesting to see the different perspectives presented about psychiatry and drugs, but if someone tells me they were cured of their mental illness by crystals or sitting under a pyramid--don't expect me to buy that.
>
> Regards,
>
> Caleb
hi caleb, yes, yes, i agree with you completely, i did not - and do not - want to come off as a know-it-all just because i have education/experience in a certain area. i was trying to point out that, like you aptly state, when there is a spurious post (e.g., one individual was planning on ramping up klonopin to 16 mg/day and is not taking the medication for seizures/epilepsy), i will throw my opinion in the mix and back it up with what information i can to support my post. i am on the same page as you 100% and just wanted to make it clear to you - and other posters - that i am not the font of all wisdom and knowledge here.....or anywhere, for that matter!...all the best, chemist
Posted by caleb96 on May 9, 2004, at 17:37:41
In reply to Alternative Therapies, posted by maxziggy2002 on May 9, 2004, at 15:34:25
> It's starting to become clear to me that the dominant personalities on this board are not interested in hearing about alternatives to dangerous anti-depressants and seem vested in shooting down anyone who tries to offer them.
>
> This seems odd. Don't you want people to get better? Just because drugs like effexor have "saved" some people's lives doesn't mean that all of us should be taking them. They are notoriously over-prescribed for mild and situational "depression", which nowadays applies to almost anything.
>
> I was on effexor for 18 months and I hated it. It took me almost 6 months to detox from it. And yes I tapered. And all this I went through without the support of any doctor. They all thought I was crazy because they believed the lying drug company. I wasn't nor am I crazy.
>
> Since then, I relapsed into "depression" when I lost my job. I survived it on my own and decided that I was the one who needed changing. I was overweight and lethargic. So I changed my lifestyle, beginning with diet. I gradually phased out sugar and complex carbs and found my energy level soar. So, I got off the couch and started exercising. And go figure, my mood, motivation, and concentration improved. And I lost 30 pounds.
>
> After going out for pancakes one morning and feeling sleepy, cloudy, and lazy not too long afterwards, I searched "depression" and "sugar" on the net and found several sites referring to "sugar sensitivity", most inspired by Kathleen Desmaisons.
>
> I don't eat the potato--I don't need it. However, I found that my lifestyle changes corresponded to Desmaisons 7 steps.
>
> I've never felt better in my entire life. Was I ever "depressed" in the first place? Or did I suffer from extremely poor nutrition, like most North Americans? Did my doctor ever bother to find out? No, she just put me on a quick-fix and sent me on my way.
>
> The attitudes of doctors and "scientists" are irresponsible. None of us knows what these drugs really do to our physiology. Cocaine used to be prescribed to fight "depression". Would you support that today?
>
> There is no miracle cure for depression. YOU need to look at yourself, and YOU need to fix yourself. But so long as you cling to these drugs, you'll be powerless to do so.
>
> Good luck to all of you. I only wish you the best life you can have.Well maxziggy, you make an extremely strong arguement for your case. And, as you have already experienced, depression is a disorder that can go into remission and pop up again at a later date.
I went through the first 25 years of my adult life in this on-and-off state without even realizing what my problem was. Most people wrote me off as "moody" even though I often had lots of friends and liked having a good time.
I experienced my first panic attack (depression related) when I was 18. My first year as an undergraduate in college was one of the darkest, most frightening periods of my life. Later, I even had a roommate in Grad school who nicknamed me "Mad Mike" because I would go through such dark, brooding spells.
Some of my worst spells of depression hit me in my late teens through my mid-20s. During this time I was very athletic and was an avid distance runner--and there was nothing wrong with my diet--I was in extremely good physical condition. Nevertheless, these black spells would usually last about two to four months--sometimes longer--then I'd experience a remission state for several months or even a few years.
In my early 30s, I started having periods of depression and moodiness again--ironically, this was a period where I had everything in world going for me--physically, financially and professionally. I forgot to mention that starting about age 19, I began seeing psychologists. I probably went to a half-dozen over the years--some helped a little, some didn't help at all. But the "help" was very short-lived. I couldn't beat my problem by just talking to someone.
Finally, In the mid-90s, I saw a good psychiatrist who immediately was able to diagnose me correctly. He put me on a moderate dose of Zoloft. When I saw him at my next appointment, he started cracking jokes. We both had a good laugh, and then he looked at me and said "see." I said "see what?" He said "when I first saw you, you were like a zombie--you barely spoke, you never looked me in the eye. You feel better, don't you?" That instant was like a revelation to me. I finally realized I could be happy, I could take control of my destiny instead of just drifting through life letting random chance determine my fate. For the first time I realized my life didn't have to be all gloom and doom. I finally felt great about myself despite all the flaws.
I've been taking medication fairly regularly since 1994. When I stop the drugs for a month or so, I feel that black cloud start to surround me. I'm happy for you if you can beat this problem without drugs. I wish I could, but I know I can't because I've tried so many times. So please don't trash all doctors and scientists because you realized you don't need drugs. If an alternative therapy works for you, that's great. But I don't think you're in a position to determine what's best for other people. I wish you all the best.
Love & peace,
Mike
Posted by caleb96 on May 9, 2004, at 18:28:32
In reply to Re: Alternative Therapies » maxziggy2002, posted by finelinebob on May 9, 2004, at 17:02:28
Hi flb,
>> However, your mileage may vary. <<
I hadn't given it much thought before, but my mileage DOES vary--sometimes a lot. Hmmm. Well I'll be damned.
Thanks for the tip,
Caleb
Posted by Sinnielou on May 9, 2004, at 19:48:13
In reply to Re: Alternative Therapies, posted by caleb96 on May 9, 2004, at 17:37:41
> > It's starting to become clear to me that the dominant personalities on this board are not interested in hearing about alternatives to dangerous anti-depressants and seem vested in shooting down anyone who tries to offer them.
> >
> > This seems odd. Don't you want people to get better? Just because drugs like effexor have "saved" some people's lives doesn't mean that all of us should be taking them. They are notoriously over-prescribed for mild and situational "depression", which nowadays applies to almost anything.
> >
> > I was on effexor for 18 months and I hated it. It took me almost 6 months to detox from it. And yes I tapered. And all this I went through without the support of any doctor. They all thought I was crazy because they believed the lying drug company. I wasn't nor am I crazy.
> >
> > Since then, I relapsed into "depression" when I lost my job. I survived it on my own and decided that I was the one who needed changing. I was overweight and lethargic. So I changed my lifestyle, beginning with diet. I gradually phased out sugar and complex carbs and found my energy level soar. So, I got off the couch and started exercising. And go figure, my mood, motivation, and concentration improved. And I lost 30 pounds.
> >
> > After going out for pancakes one morning and feeling sleepy, cloudy, and lazy not too long afterwards, I searched "depression" and "sugar" on the net and found several sites referring to "sugar sensitivity", most inspired by Kathleen Desmaisons.
> >
> > I don't eat the potato--I don't need it. However, I found that my lifestyle changes corresponded to Desmaisons 7 steps.
> >
> > I've never felt better in my entire life. Was I ever "depressed" in the first place? Or did I suffer from extremely poor nutrition, like most North Americans? Did my doctor ever bother to find out? No, she just put me on a quick-fix and sent me on my way.
> >
> > The attitudes of doctors and "scientists" are irresponsible. None of us knows what these drugs really do to our physiology. Cocaine used to be prescribed to fight "depression". Would you support that today?
> >
> > There is no miracle cure for depression. YOU need to look at yourself, and YOU need to fix yourself. But so long as you cling to these drugs, you'll be powerless to do so.
> >
> > Good luck to all of you. I only wish you the best life you can have.
>
> Well maxziggy, you make an extremely strong arguement for your case. And, as you have already experienced, depression is a disorder that can go into remission and pop up again at a later date.
>
> I went through the first 25 years of my adult life in this on-and-off state without even realizing what my problem was. Most people wrote me off as "moody" even though I often had lots of friends and liked having a good time.
>
> I experienced my first panic attack (depression related) when I was 18. My first year as an undergraduate in college was one of the darkest, most frightening periods of my life. Later, I even had a roommate in Grad school who nicknamed me "Mad Mike" because I would go through such dark, brooding spells.
>
> Some of my worst spells of depression hit me in my late teens through my mid-20s. During this time I was very athletic and was an avid distance runner--and there was nothing wrong with my diet--I was in extremely good physical condition. Nevertheless, these black spells would usually last about two to four months--sometimes longer--then I'd experience a remission state for several months or even a few years.
>
> In my early 30s, I started having periods of depression and moodiness again--ironically, this was a period where I had everything in world going for me--physically, financially and professionally. I forgot to mention that starting about age 19, I began seeing psychologists. I probably went to a half-dozen over the years--some helped a little, some didn't help at all. But the "help" was very short-lived. I couldn't beat my problem by just talking to someone.
>
> Finally, In the mid-90s, I saw a good psychiatrist who immediately was able to diagnose me correctly. He put me on a moderate dose of Zoloft. When I saw him at my next appointment, he started cracking jokes. We both had a good laugh, and then he looked at me and said "see." I said "see what?" He said "when I first saw you, you were like a zombie--you barely spoke, you never looked me in the eye. You feel better, don't you?" That instant was like a revelation to me. I finally realized I could be happy, I could take control of my destiny instead of just drifting through life letting random chance determine my fate. For the first time I realized my life didn't have to be all gloom and doom. I finally felt great about myself despite all the flaws.
>
> I've been taking medication fairly regularly since 1994. When I stop the drugs for a month or so, I feel that black cloud start to surround me. I'm happy for you if you can beat this problem without drugs. I wish I could, but I know I can't because I've tried so many times. So please don't trash all doctors and scientists because you realized you don't need drugs. If an alternative therapy works for you, that's great. But I don't think you're in a position to determine what's best for other people. I wish you all the best.
>
> Love & peace,
> Mike
>I'd like to start of by saying Maxziggy does make a strong arguement towards alternative therapy.
I grew up in a household with a parent who is a psyciatric med nurse. I clearly aware of drugs and depression etc in my childhood. Depression was something we never spoke of and only the truley "mad" were ever medicated. It didn't happen to OUR family, but it did it happened to me. I tried everything I could to keep myself out of the doctors office to keep myself off of medications and it worked only for awhile. I am a vegetarian I am a very healthy eater I walk and I exercise. Why couldn't I get out of bed? Why did it seem hiding under my covers made life simplier? Was it because I was "mad"? Then it happened I suffered my first anxiety attack I was paralised everything I told myself about coping and everything that helped me feel good about my life disapeared in matter of minutes. Then I decided maybe it was time I faced my biggest fear and maybe it was time I got help for MYSELF. I did and I have never been a better person. I applaud everyone that feels good with diet and exercise alone. I also have to applaud the people that have taken the step to know they can't do things alone. I wish there was a "magic" pill that makes everything go away, but there isn't. It seems I survive daily not only with the medications I am on, but with a healty lifestyle as well. Good luck to everyone with the paths they have chosen.
Shannon
Posted by TanyaJean on May 9, 2004, at 21:46:37
In reply to Re: The potato, posted by seeknsolace on May 9, 2004, at 7:02:02
"> Now about a carb experience. During this past week, there was a down time of not having the cold meds in me, I had spaghetti for dinner. Immediately after I got done eating, prior to was feeling otherwise fine besides the cold, so I got done eating and got instantly nauseaus, body hurt really bad, just had a sudden urge to sleep, which carbs tend to do, but why the body ache and nausea? Again, maybe coincidental, but it was feeling of as when I was feeling the effexor withdrawal, also with the zaps.
>
> Just some thoughts..."I had the same sort of experience as you did. Just when I thought the effexor was pretty much over with, a couple of days ago I felt just as I did a week after being off Effexor. I would doubt it was the effexor withdrawal type symptoms. Doesn't seem likely. It just seems like a high dose of sugar kicked me into that feeling. Right now I'm eating a lot of vegetables and protein and feel a lot better. I don't know if it's that, or I'm just feeling better.
Now I don't know where this post should go...
Posted by seeknsolace on May 9, 2004, at 21:56:04
In reply to Re: The potato, posted by TanyaJean on May 9, 2004, at 21:46:37
> "> Now about a carb experience. During this past week, there was a down time of not having the cold meds in me, I had spaghetti for dinner. Immediately after I got done eating, prior to was feeling otherwise fine besides the cold, so I got done eating and got instantly nauseaus, body hurt really bad, just had a sudden urge to sleep, which carbs tend to do, but why the body ache and nausea? Again, maybe coincidental, but it was feeling of as when I was feeling the effexor withdrawal, also with the zaps.
> >
> > Just some thoughts..."
>
> I had the same sort of experience as you did. Just when I thought the effexor was pretty much over with, a couple of days ago I felt just as I did a week after being off Effexor. I would doubt it was the effexor withdrawal type symptoms. Doesn't seem likely. It just seems like a high dose of sugar kicked me into that feeling. Right now I'm eating a lot of vegetables and protein and feel a lot better. I don't know if it's that, or I'm just feeling better.
>
> Now I don't know where this post should go...
>Thanks Tonya, I'm glad to know I'm not going nuts and being irratational. My cold symptoms have finally begun to subside, hence no more cold medicine.. realizing they were just covering up the effexor withdrawal symptoms. I was symptom free while being sick and drugged up. Just cant seem to win. I thought too maybe I should give up sweets/carbs. I've gained even more weight since being off effexor, not sure for the reasoning of this.. my unhealthy eating habits havent changed or increased.
Are you still getting the zaps? Thats what I'm still experiencing, being in week 4 now, with some physical pains.. this is just so ridiculous. I can tolerate these feelings, but not knowing when it gets better is what sucks and the not knowing is wearing me down.
Anyways, thanks for letting me know I'm not totally insane.
Posted by TanyaJean on May 9, 2004, at 23:41:52
In reply to Re: The potato » TanyaJean, posted by seeknsolace on May 9, 2004, at 21:56:04
>
> Thanks Tanya, I'm glad to know I'm not going nuts and being irratational. My cold symptoms have finally begun to subside, hence no more cold medicine.. realizing they were just covering up the effexor withdrawal symptoms. I was symptom free while being sick and drugged up. Just cant seem to win. I thought too maybe I should give up sweets/carbs. I've gained even more weight since being off effexor, not sure for the reasoning of this.. my unhealthy eating habits havent changed or increased.
>
> Are you still getting the zaps? Thats what I'm still experiencing, being in week 4 now, with some physical pains.. this is just so ridiculous. I can tolerate these feelings, but not knowing when it gets better is what sucks and the not knowing is wearing me down.
>
> Anyways, thanks for letting me know I'm not totally insane.**Even though I was really sick being off EFFEXOR and wasn't eating a lot, I too gained weight. I don't know if this would work for you, but the South Beach Diet is what I'm doing. I wish it were called something different because it sounds trendy. I bought nothing, just did a lot of searching for info on the internet. Just for the first two weeks, you eat a lot of protein and vegetables and don't eat ...carbs basically. You'll have to check out the plan and see if it's right for you. After two weeks you start adding fruit and whole grains. Anyway, the less carbs I get, the better I feel. I'm vegetarian, but tend to really like white rice, white sugar and that sort of thing. It could be less carbs, it could be that I'm just feeling better, I don't know.
It took 5-6 weeks of totally being off EFFEXOR to start to feel better. Week 5 or so, last Monday, I had to go into the doctor to get a shot to keep me from vomiting. For some reason I just could not stop. Since Wednesday of last week, I started feeling better. I guess for some it takes 2-4 months to feel normal for some. Once in a while I get the "zaps" and that same helicopter-sound in my ears. I'm having heart palpatations that started a week ago, before I started on the South Beach. Not sure what that's about.
It's just so unreal to feel so physically ill so long after something leaves your system.
Posted by seeknsolace on May 10, 2004, at 5:56:15
In reply to Re: The potato, posted by TanyaJean on May 9, 2004, at 23:41:52
>
> >
> > Thanks Tanya, I'm glad to know I'm not going nuts and being irratational. My cold symptoms have finally begun to subside, hence no more cold medicine.. realizing they were just covering up the effexor withdrawal symptoms. I was symptom free while being sick and drugged up. Just cant seem to win. I thought too maybe I should give up sweets/carbs. I've gained even more weight since being off effexor, not sure for the reasoning of this.. my unhealthy eating habits havent changed or increased.
> >
> > Are you still getting the zaps? Thats what I'm still experiencing, being in week 4 now, with some physical pains.. this is just so ridiculous. I can tolerate these feelings, but not knowing when it gets better is what sucks and the not knowing is wearing me down.
> >
> > Anyways, thanks for letting me know I'm not totally insane.
>
> **Even though I was really sick being off EFFEXOR and wasn't eating a lot, I too gained weight. I don't know if this would work for you, but the South Beach Diet is what I'm doing. I wish it were called something different because it sounds trendy. I bought nothing, just did a lot of searching for info on the internet. Just for the first two weeks, you eat a lot of protein and vegetables and don't eat ...carbs basically. You'll have to check out the plan and see if it's right for you. After two weeks you start adding fruit and whole grains. Anyway, the less carbs I get, the better I feel. I'm vegetarian, but tend to really like white rice, white sugar and that sort of thing. It could be less carbs, it could be that I'm just feeling better, I don't know.
>
> It took 5-6 weeks of totally being off EFFEXOR to start to feel better. Week 5 or so, last Monday, I had to go into the doctor to get a shot to keep me from vomiting. For some reason I just could not stop. Since Wednesday of last week, I started feeling better. I guess for some it takes 2-4 months to feel normal for some. Once in a while I get the "zaps" and that same helicopter-sound in my ears. I'm having heart palpatations that started a week ago, before I started on the South Beach. Not sure what that's about.
>
> It's just so unreal to feel so physically ill so long after something leaves your system.
>
>The important thing is that you are feeling better. It does seem unreal, unnatural, unfair.. having to go thru this crap without sensible reasoning. At times, I wonder if it somehow has permanantly damaged us, to never truly escape and be free from it. At times it feels like a metaphoric demon possession where there is no deliverance from.
In some ways, I feel I cant continue in the fullness of life that I'm able to lead, until this leaves me. It sucks to pretend.. to go thru the motions of life, masking to the world that things are ok.. when there's a raging hell going on inside your body.
The injustice of it all is what is most frustrating and upsetting.
Posted by Morgaine on May 10, 2004, at 21:49:23
In reply to If wishes were horses... (nm) » maxziggy2002, posted by harryp on May 8, 2004, at 7:18:57
to harryp, you posted nothing. whassup?
Posted by harryp on May 11, 2004, at 2:59:36
In reply to Re: If wishes were horses..., posted by Morgaine on May 10, 2004, at 21:49:23
> to harryp, you posted nothing. whassup?
Check the post I was responding to:
"You don't need antidepressants!"
:-}
Posted by caleb96 on May 11, 2004, at 10:20:37
In reply to Effexor withdrawal - very bad news, posted by janey on November 1, 1998, at 16:30:34
Will someone please tell me what the heck "(nm)" means? The only thing I can figure is it's an abbreviation for(new message). But the context it's used in doesn't always make sense to me.
Caleb
Posted by worm on May 11, 2004, at 10:45:17
In reply to Question, posted by caleb96 on May 11, 2004, at 10:20:37
> Will someone please tell me what the heck "(nm)" means? The only thing I can figure is it's an abbreviation for(new message). But the context it's used in doesn't always make sense to me.
>
> CalebIt means "NO message" that means that the subject line IS the message, and it referes to the previous message that it was in reply to. I personnally find it confusing, as I don't always read the subject lines, because they frequently are copied from teh previous post, adn bear little resemblance to the current subject - JMHO (just my humble opinion)
Posted by TanyaJean on May 11, 2004, at 11:49:50
In reply to Re: Question » caleb96, posted by worm on May 11, 2004, at 10:45:17
> > Will someone please tell me what the heck "(nm)" means? The only thing I can figure is it's an abbreviation for(new message). But the context it's used in doesn't always make sense to me.
> >
> > Caleb
>
> It means "NO message" that means that the subject line IS the message, and it referes to the previous message that it was in reply to. I personnally find it confusing, as I don't always read the subject lines, because they frequently are copied from teh previous post, adn bear little resemblance to the current subject - JMHO (just my humble opinion)**HAHA! Thanks for clearing that up. I was scratching my head.
Posted by caleb96 on May 11, 2004, at 12:18:05
In reply to Re: Question » caleb96, posted by worm on May 11, 2004, at 10:45:17
Thank you worm, that makes more sense. That (nm) was starting to drive me crazy (ha,ha--no pun intended!).
You're exactly right about the subject lines. I could respond to the original 1998 message for this thread with a comment that has nothing to do with it. Unless we start to make an effort to enter a subject that is relevant to our messages, the subject line will continue to be meaningless in most cases.
Regards,
Caleb
Posted by finelinebob on May 11, 2004, at 12:36:15
In reply to Thanks worm for your answer, posted by caleb96 on May 11, 2004, at 12:18:05
BTW, you can also find the answer here: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html
If there are a few things in Babbleland that have you puzzled, the FAQ is a good place to go!
flb
Posted by caleb96 on May 11, 2004, at 13:38:14
In reply to Just the FAQs... re: [nm] et al., posted by finelinebob on May 11, 2004, at 12:36:15
Hi flb:
You're a pretty interesting guy. That FAQ page looks interesting and I'm gonna read through it later today. Dr. Bob is a pretty cool guy. If I had the opportunity to meet any two people, they would be Brian Wilson and Dr. Bob. Just a random though.
Thanks again flb,
Regards,
Caleb
Posted by Morgaine on May 12, 2004, at 3:00:32
In reply to Alternative Therapies, posted by maxziggy2002 on May 9, 2004, at 15:34:25
> It's starting to become clear to me that the dominant personalities on this board are not interested in hearing about alternatives to dangerous anti-depressants and seem vested in shooting down anyone who tries to offer them.
>
> This seems odd. Don't you want people to get better? Just because drugs like effexor have "saved" some people's lives doesn't mean that all of us should be taking them. They are notoriously over-prescribed for mild and situational "depression", which nowadays applies to almost anything.
>
> I was on effexor for 18 months and I hated it. It took me almost 6 months to detox from it. And yes I tapered. And all this I went through without the support of any doctor. They all thought I was crazy because they believed the lying drug company. I wasn't nor am I crazy.
>
> Since then, I relapsed into "depression" when I lost my job. I survived it on my own and decided that I was the one who needed changing. I was overweight and lethargic. So I changed my lifestyle, beginning with diet. I gradually phased out sugar and complex carbs and found my energy level soar. So, I got off the couch and started exercising. And go figure, my mood, motivation, and concentration improved. And I lost 30 pounds.
>
> After going out for pancakes one morning and feeling sleepy, cloudy, and lazy not too long afterwards, I searched "depression" and "sugar" on the net and found several sites referring to "sugar sensitivity", most inspired by Kathleen Desmaisons.
>
> I don't eat the potato--I don't need it. However, I found that my lifestyle changes corresponded to Desmaisons 7 steps.
>
> I've never felt better in my entire life. Was I ever "depressed" in the first place? Or did I suffer from extremely poor nutrition, like most North Americans? Did my doctor ever bother to find out? No, she just put me on a quick-fix and sent me on my way.
>
> The attitudes of doctors and "scientists" are irresponsible. None of us knows what these drugs really do to our physiology. Cocaine used to be prescribed to fight "depression". Would you support that today?
>
> There is no miracle cure for depression. YOU need to look at yourself, and YOU need to fix yourself. But so long as you cling to these drugs, you'll be powerless to do so.
>
> Good luck to all of you. I only wish you the best life you can have.I wish the best life can offer for you too. Be grateful everyday that you
do not have 'clinical depression' or any depression for that matter.
Of course you should have never been prescribed this drug! A psychiatrist
prescribed it, not your primary care, this is truly scary, my condolences.
Posted by jennm on May 18, 2004, at 15:16:08
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal & side effects, posted by Dave K. on November 28, 1998, at 12:58:34
I have lived with major depression for all of my life, however, about 5 years ago, after coming very close to suicide, my therapist tried me on Wellbutrin SR which works wonderfully for me.
I recently had a baby (she is 7 1/2 months old now) and was suffering with severe depression again despite taking the maximum dose of Wellbutrin SR daily (200mg bid). So, my doctor tried adding 75mg of Effexor daily. It seemed to help a little (I think?), but I also experienced the "anorgasmia" side effect which was a bother(to say the least) and didn't feel like it was worth the money or the side effects to continue taking the Effector. So I decided to wean myself off of it(I didn't consult my dr though which I am sure isn't adviseable), and I am now experiencing some troubling symptoms. I had only been taking it for about a month, maybe two, so I really didn't think it would be that hard to quit taking it.
There is some significant mental illness in my family so I always panic when I feel like I am going nuts which doesn't help, and I have also been under a lot of stress lately which I am sure isn't helping anything either. Anyway, I have been feeling that pseudo-dizzy feeling, anxiousness, irritability--basically feeling like I am experiencing really bad PMS + dizziness. Does anyone have any advice? How long is this going to last? It has only been about a week and a half since I stopped taking it all together and like I said I was only taking 75mg a day. I really wasn't expecting to be this impacted by it! What is going on here???
Thanks for any help any of you have to offer--
Posted by ku4ns on May 18, 2004, at 15:27:04
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by jennm on May 18, 2004, at 15:16:08
It seems that you should be nearing the last effects of the effexor, but there is a lower dose you could use 37.5mg. Personally I used Prozac 20mg to rid myself of the effexor which has worked very well. I hope this helps. John
Posted by annesand on May 19, 2004, at 7:31:13
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by ku4ns on May 18, 2004, at 15:27:04
I agree. I took one 20mg Prozac (which takes 3 weeks to ease out of your system) and the dizziness disappeared.
Posted by winifred on May 19, 2004, at 11:05:44
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by ku4ns on May 18, 2004, at 15:27:04
> It seems that you should be nearing the last effects of the effexor, but there is a lower dose you could use 37.5mg. Personally I used Prozac 20mg to rid myself of the effexor which has worked very well. I hope this helps. John
My doc refused to prescribe a small dose of prozac to help with the withdrawl. I am weaning from 450 a day of effexor. This isn't the first time I have attempted to get off of this terrible drug. Today is my first day going cold turkey. I feel awful! The doctor said he thought the "brain shiver" vertigo feeling is all in my head and offered xanax for anxiety. I am going to try this drug free I guess. I hope the withdrawl ends soon. I want my pre effexor life back!
Posted by ku4ns on May 19, 2004, at 12:22:52
In reply to Re: Effexor withdrawal side effects, posted by winifred on May 19, 2004, at 11:05:44
I can't say enough about the use of the prozac, since this was my second time attempting to stop effexor. I remember the first time trying to stop and when I had the "brain shiver" my blood pressure was elevated enough to be treated for high bp. Using the prozac I did not experience one withdrawal symptom as I had previously. John
> > It seems that you should be nearing the last effects of the effexor, but there is a lower dose you could use 37.5mg. Personally I used Prozac 20mg to rid myself of the effexor which has worked very well. I hope this helps. John
>
> My doc refused to prescribe a small dose of prozac to help with the withdrawl. I am weaning from 450 a day of effexor. This isn't the first time I have attempted to get off of this terrible drug. Today is my first day going cold turkey. I feel awful! The doctor said he thought the "brain shiver" vertigo feeling is all in my head and offered xanax for anxiety. I am going to try this drug free I guess. I hope the withdrawl ends soon. I want my pre effexor life back!
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